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# Bullish Southampton hit back after Spygate as ex-Sunderland chief eyes return

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 8 Jun
- **Club:** Middlesbrough
- **Original URL:** https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bullish-southampton-hit-back-after-34085470

The Saints were expelled from the Championship play-off final after being caught cheating when an intern was found spying on Middlesbrough's training before their semi-final. The incident has led to head coach Tonda Eckert, who continues to be backed by Solak, being investigated by the FA and likely to receive a lengthy ban. Speculation has also increased over the future of stars like Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Leo Scienza.

However, after the permanent signings of Daniel Peretz from Bayern Munich and Cyle Larin from RCD Mallorca respectively, is there new-found hope on the South Coast?

"Our goal for the window is not to make money, it's to make at least the same quality team, if not a better quality team for next season," Solak told BBC Radio Solent.

"I hope that in the next couple of days we'll have more to show that very early in the window, even before the window, that we mean serious business."

There are North East connections as three candidates have been tipped for the vacant director of football role at Birmingham City following Craig Gardner’s exit on Saturday.

According to Football Insider, Kristjaan Speakman, Mike Rigg and Dan Ashworth are under consideration to replace Gardner - after the Blues finished in an underwhelming 10th position in their first season back in the Championship.

Speakman’s six-year tenure as Sunderland sporting director saw the Black Cats return to the Premier League all the way from League One, following two play-off final victories.

Ashworth is the FA’s chief football officer and has had recent sporting director spells at Newcastle United and Manchester United, while Rigg currently serves Birmingham as academy director.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka is the latest of several players linked with a move away from West Ham United, who prepare for their first Championship season since 2011/12.

The right-back has attracted interest from Everton, while Sunderland, Newcastle United, Fulham and Fenerbahçe are monitoring the situation according to reports

Despite being a regular starter throughout the last campaign, Wan-Bissaka, who will represent DR Congo at the World Cup, was an unused substitute for four of the Hammers’ last seven league games.

Will Steven Gerrard be Burnley’s new manager? The Liverpool legend has been out of a managerial role since leaving Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq in January 2025.

But reports linking the former Rangers and Aston Villa boss with the Clarets job have circulated for over a month, even before Scott Parker left the club in late April.

According to the Burnley Express, the process of appointing a manager is still ongoing and rumours of an announcement this week have been played down.

Swansea City are closing in on a deal to sign Celtic defender Stephen Welsh.

The 26-year-old, who agreed to terminate his contract at the Bhoys 12 months early, is set to become manager Vitor Matos’ first summer signing - amid interest from fellow Championship clubs and the MLS, as per The Daily Record.

Having come up through Celtic’s ranks, Welsh made 70 appearances for the side across all competitions and spent last season on loan at Motherwell.

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